Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1887-10-13
MCGOWAN g. NICHOLS, Publishers.
CUMBERLAND COURTS
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.

WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.
The Court resumed its business yes
4 terday afternoon by a resumption of
the oyster case of Willets, VS.. Grace.
The examination of the last witness
called in the morning, Captain Daniel
Loper, was resumed, His testimony
was mainly substantiatory Of that of
on the cross examination by Judge
Paneoast came near being a sumner
for the witness, but it was sort of
boomerang for the astute Judge. He
asked him if he was ever convicted of
violation of the oyster laws. 1t was
some time before the captain compre
headed the question, but when he
found out what was meant, he pretty
soon made the Judge aware of the
act that he had, as special officer, had
a man convicted and his boat confis-
Gated for violation of the oyster
laws. Captain Bass sworn, he
knew the schooner "LudlamF-had
followed oystering fourteen years
thought the 'Ludlam'' would carry
about 200 bushels of oysters for deck
load-knew the grounds claimed by
Willets and Loper-saw the Annie 4.
Ludlam'' there on the 21st of May 1886.
Capt. William Burke was the next to
follow. He lived in Goshen, Cape May
Co., and was an oysterman. Capt.
of oil
lives at Goshen He was pat on the
stand by the attorney for the plaintiffs
to show his connection with the ''Annie
R. Ludlamn and her business. This,
with the exception of one witness who
was yet to arrive, closed the testimony
for the plaintiffs.
Judge Pancoast commenced the de-
fence, outlining it with the usual as
sumption that Col. Willets a2d Capt.
Daniel Loper had not, by lawful
action, acquired any private right to
that common, natural oyster ground,
which they had taken from the public
domain and appropriated to their own
use. Failing in establishing this fact,
the defence would then endeavor to
resolve upon the question of the light
value of the few oysters takesa by the
''Annie r. Ludlam'' on three or four
occasions, and few other boats, off
these, as they claimed, natural oyster
grounds.
Mr.. Leaning Rice, land surveyor,
of Dennisville, was the first witness
for the defence. He procured map,
which he had made, showing by tri-
angulation and measurement, the
location of the oyster bed spoken of.
This spot was marked on the map
Natural Oyster Bed" At the time of
making the survey, parties who were
VITA him, went about and staked out
what they called the natural bed.
Cross examined by Col. Potter
WHO went with you to point out Col
Wlllets and Captain Loper's ground?"
James Chester"
He said he been on the grounds be-
fore, two or three times, but he lived
ten miles away. Capt. William Burke
WAS ChilSO IOF oiie uclcHoc oLu ootiu iaO
showed Surveyor Rice the grounds
claimed by Willets and Loper.
Capt: Frank J. Grace was called for
the defence and remembered that he
was dredging oysters on the grounds
spoken OF at the time claimed, 18th of
Nav, 1886. with the annie r. Ludlam,"
made three trips-he gathered the
oysters to sell-to plant and sell. The
oysters, he thought, would run about
one third primes supposed that twice
when he was there he had 90 bushels
each time, the other time he had about
half the quantity. He was cruising
for natural oysters to plant; he first
knew of this bed twenty years ago;
went there then and tonged up darby
load of oysters. He was given search
ing cross examination by Col. Potter.
The witness showed a happy stage of
ignorance which, at times, was rather
amusing to the audience, if exaspera-
ting to the lawyer There was much
shrewd method, however, partially
visible in his blissful ignorance.
Charles Weldon, who had manifested
a knowledge which might trouble the
plaintiffs, was recalled. He said, near
as he could tell, the boat had so or 60
bushels on at each trip while carrying
oysters from the grounds in dispute.
He said he worked on the same
ground three years ago this Fall.
Alexander r. Ludlam, who was
part owner of the ''Annie r. Ludlam,"
was sworn, also Amos Douglas and j.
II 1,,ues Hand, other owners of the
b ,at, and James Chester were called
and test fed